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posted 09/10/09previously published in "The Architecture Bulletin" of the NSW Chapter RAIA

It has been said that, ‘There is no more complete form of imprisonment than to be imprisoned in the present.’I would hasten to add, that there can be no more liberating action than the establishment in this country of a national museum devoted to architectural culture, with the express intention TO CAPTURE THE PAST, RECORD THE PRESENT, AND IMAGINE THE FUTURE.

I’ve been thinking about a national architecture museum for some time.Architecture, after all, is one of the most important sources of knowledge of the past.Last year I determined to do something about it to bring it to fruition.You would expect that everyone, especially architects, would respond positively.Politicians, of course, are a different matter, but design professionals, I felt certain, could be counted on to automatically react to such a proposal since they are committed to improving the quality of the built environment and design excellence.You could say it is their core business.A museum devoted solely to educating the public about the benefits of good design and increasing a broader understanding and appreciation of our architectural heritage, including the contemporary, would find the profession of architecture united in its stand on this.Surprisingly, this proved not to be the case and is the reason for this article as a further call for disinterested, active support.

Architecture supplies us with a ‘map’, in other places I have called it ‘the clothing’, of civilisation.To preserve records of our national architectural inheritance is tantamount to saving the very codes of civilisation, its technology, society, meanings – the things that have made it unique, different from others, that contributed to its richness and diversity.

Such a national museum is a safeguard, a last resort, if you like where the physical fabric is threatened or already destroyed or irremeably altered.It can supply essential information of what a building once was, or should have been.Count Sforza, speaking some time ago, on behalf of the Council of Europe, asserted that the cultural heritage is not a luxury.It is an integral part of the national economy, especially with regard to tourism.

The idea that architects would support the proposal, it transpired was incorrect.I have therefore, been obliged to mount an argument.The fact that other advanced and culturally enlightened nations not only one such museum, but often several, would, appear to clinch the argument.There were, at last count, 70 museums and galleries for architecture in the world: the Sir John Soane Museum in London was established in 1834, and the Crystal Palace, after it was relocated in 1852, prior to its demise in 1936, also did duty as a museum of architecture.

Civilised countries make huge investments in architecture: a city does not appear overnight, it is built decade by decade, each new generation adding its own unique contribution and shaping the fabric of their city.Buildings and towns are witnesses to the life of past generations.Since the ill-fated Whitlam government when politicians showed they understood Australia’s over-concentration in a few large bloated coastal cities, there has been no meaningful effort to correct this failure by supporting new regional centres.Architecture and the problems of unbalanced urban grow have been ignored by politicians.

The current federal government not only expects these existing centres to continue to house new arrivals without state assistance, planning, or investment, to provide the new amenities, and infrastructure that are demanded and should be built to allow such cities to function effectively and efficiently.

By rights, we should be building a new city the size of Newcastle each year to accommodate the immigration numbers arriving in Australia annually!It is a measure of government irresponsibility that all this is left to private enterprise, with profit the leading motivator for community development!Little wonder the immigrant experience is so appalling, and many new migrants wonder whether they would not have done better staying at home.Cities require huge investments over generations.They are also architecture, or one would hope they were, if they are places that are to inspire the imagination and make life a joyous experience.

How much is building construction worth in this country?How important is it to the national economy and to our export of professional architectural services around the world?These are not easy questions to answer, but I will try.It is important when talking to politicians that they understand that design and architecture are not dispensable concerns that must take a back seat to more pressing concerns such as water and climate change or the economy.Thinking about our cities and about architecture could supply solutions when a politician asks, “Why should government [or private companies for that matter] give its support for the establishment of an architecture museum?”

The following is from the 2008 Year Book Australia, published by the ABS: “The construction industry has a major influence on every Australian and plays a significant role in the Australian economy.”Not convinced: ‘The construction industry, and its activities, are strongly linked to other parts of the Australian economy such as manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade, and finance and insurance industries.In addition, architectural and engineering professionals are closely linked with the industry.”

Not yet persuaded?Did you know that in the year 2006-07 private sector construction increased to $84.526 billion and employed 917,600 individuals.The public sector was worth $22.075 billion, making a total industry of $106.601 billion.In the Australian economy this represented 6.4% of GDP.Furthermore, construction trade services employed 633,500 people.There are only 4 other sectors that employed more people.

By comparison, the tourism industry, which the federal government has supported to the tune of $200 million this year in its media tourist promotion campaign, employed 465,500 people in 2005-06 and was worth $20 billion or 3.9% of GDP.And architecture is involved in tourism – heavily involved!And isn’t a national museum of architecture, also an investment in tourism.A really good investment.What about mining, the saviour of the Australian economy over the past couple of years, mining activity earned 7% of GDP, a smidgin ahead of construction.

But of course, I hear you say, not all construction is architecture, and you would be correct.Indeed, only a small fraction of the residential investment of $31.104 billion (2005-06), was done by architects.

As a proportion of the population of a 22.00 million in October 2009, there is 1 architect per 2 013 head of population: granted, not a huge number, but architects do, for all that, have a significant impact on the Australian economy and culture out of proportion to what these numbers might indicate.In part, this is because, architects inherited the mission of modernism to demonstrate to all the benefits of efficient, healthy planning and design, to touch the hearts of the masses, to bring joy and happiness by meeting real needs beautifully.It is this idealistic core that accounts for the pervasive reach of architecture in the community, its educational mission, and its impact.At last count there were 9 065 members of the Australian Institute of Architects, of whom 5 940 were registered, with 715 employed overseas, and an additional 659 retired members.The number of registered architects in Australia totals 10 720.

This may seem a relatively small number when looked at in terms of a total population in excess of 21 million.I assume you agree that such an important activity as construction should have its culture recorded, saved, studied, exhibited, discussed, promoted and published, since it is central to so many Australian lives, and has such a direct bearing on the quality of life of the majority of our citizens.What sort of museum should one be thinking of?What type of museum concept would best satisfy the educational and archival requirements of this society at the present time, and into the future?

Without digressing too much by giving an account of how museums in general have changed in recent days in order to make themselves more relevant and accessible, what I would like to suggest is that an architecture museum which is national in its scope and activities, that can be accessed online from anyplace in the country, and that does not focus exclusively on the past, but which conserves the best historical architectural design culture, takes in and includes indigenous architecture, should also engage the future, how our cities must change if they are to be sustainable and efficient and decent-- wonderful -- places for their inhabitants.

This involves re-thinking fundamental values and assumptions that drive Western civilisation.It is a civilisation in crisis, so distorted, so excessive in its consumption of resources, a comprehensive reconsideration is essential. It is less a matter of wrestling with its discontents than suggesting radial changes to remedy this distress,, factoring in all of the economic, financial factors and environmental costs, if nothing is done.

Now is the time to reassess the city, how we live in them, move about, recreate, work, and the kind of architecture that will best serve the new goals in meeting the unprecedented challenges of the future.There must, therefore be two parts to the museum, one devoted to the past and understanding its architectural history, and another visionary futurist part, to imagining a future architecture and it will sit in the new city which architects and planners, economists, sociologists, and others will need to realise.

Earth is our only habitat, humans are unlikely to colonise planets elsewhere in the universeOur future survival is dependent on preserving a egregiously thin 20 km layer of atmosphere, half, too thin to sustain life.At 6 billion plus, there is no alternative to a more responsible approach to population growth driving economic growth and consumption to new heights -- the alternative is a massive population collapse.This prospect is the setting for thinking about the museum.Realistically, it must be a museum that explores, not only a sustainable architecture, the implications and shapes for a sustainable society and economy that is expressed by sustainable social practices and values.

A frequently asked question is where will the new museum be located?More critical is when?My answer invariably is it should be sited where it will make the greatest impact, and produce the greatest benefit for the nation.This could be in one of our major cities such as Brisbane Sydney, Melbourne or in Canberra.As a national institution, it would naturally fit the agenda of Canberra and Canberra is our only designed city with many impressive buildings, so that would make great sense.Canberra has a relatively small population of above average education, so besides the school groups and tourists, its reach would be limited.A location in a lager city would guarantee greater exposure and greater numbers, hence, have a more substantial impact.In practical terms the museum will most probably happen where people strongly support the idea.

What should the museum look like?It would be a tragedy if, as a result of an architectural design competition, the resulting building looked anything like the National Museum in Canberra.Buildings with similar aesthetics can be discovered anywhere in the world that is an integral part of an anonymous global culture.Visitors should be attracted because it offers an experience that they cannot have in Paris, Helsinki, or Los Angeles, or London, for that matter.Nothing could be more depressing than for a Finnish architect to travel all the way to Sydney only to be confronted by a building, the like of which, he could easily see and visit in his home country.For that reason, it should be uniquely and excitingly Australian.What this will mean in practice is that part of the creative challenge in designing the new museum will be to give it an indefinable Australian aura.

Our only truly great work of architecture in Australia was designed by a Dane who had never visited, much less had seen this country.The national museum of architecture could be an opportunity to produce an equally great piece of architecture by an Australian.